Location: 34400 block of Road 140, Visalia

Incident Date: 07/22/16

Incident Time: 0810 hours

Case Number: 16-80079

Victim: State of California

City: Visalia

Posted by: Media Relations

Suspect #1: Manuel Aguirre Lopez   MH/ 27 years   Ivanhoe, Ca.

Charges: 148 PC/ 273(a) PC/ Felony Arrest Warrant for 451(d) PC/ 10851 (a) CVC 487 (a) PC/ 3056 PC

 Suspect #2: Taylor Rae Vela              FH/ 21 yrs     Visalia, Ca.

Charges: 32 PC

On 07/22/16 at approximately 0730 hours, investigators from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit received information that Manuel Lopez, a known Southern gang member who is a wanted felon, had absconded from State Parole and had an active felony arrest warrant for Arson and Possession of a stolen car, was in the area of the 34400 block of Road 140.

When the Gang Investigators arrived in the area along with patrol deputies, Lopez fled into a residence of a friend and refused to come out.

Suspect #2 Taylor Vela was in the area and was contacted as well. Vela, a close friend of Lopez, has been contacted in the past during this investigation and had knowledge that Lopez was a wanted felon. The ensuing investigation determined that Vela had been harboring and aiding Lopez in his attempt to flee from justice.

After a two (2) hour standoff, two other occupants came out of the residence, one of which was a 14-year-old female. The suspect then came out of the residence and surrendered to Gang Unit Investigators.

 When the investigators realized there was a juvenile in the residence, the additional charge of child endangerment was added to Lopez for placing the child in a dangerous situation while refusing commands to come out of the residence.

Both suspects were booked at the APTF without incident on the listed charges.

The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit and no other information is being released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Det. Matthew Rascon at (559) 735-1898 or (800) 808-0488. Booking photos are available through the Main Jail.

Anonymous information about this incident can be reported via Tipnow

email tcso@tipnow.net

txt or voicemail at 559-725-4194 or (800) END-GANG

or download the Tipnow app for Android or Apple phones.